Mean Streets of Gadgetzan

"Gadgetzan, where the gangs rule the streets; Gadgetzan, full of swindlers and cheats. Zip and sing the ring-a-ding-ding, on the mean streets of Gadgetzan! Gadgetzan, where the crime doesn't pay; Gadgetzan - but we do it anyway! You gotta take on your rivals for your gang's survival and the turf that belongs to your clan. Everywhere you're lookin', everyone is crooked - Welcome to the big time, pal! - on the mean streets of Gadgetzan!"

Wild format

With the arrival of the Year of the Raven, the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan is now a Wild format expansion. This means that the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs are no longer available from the Shop, and cards from the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card set are no longer playable in Standard format matches. For more information, see Game format.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan (Gadgetzan, MSoG) is the fourth expansion to Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Featuring 132 new collectible cards, the expansion was released December 1, 2016 in the Americas region,[1] and December 2, 2016 in the Europe and Asia regions.[2]

Set in the bustling, lawless port city of Gadgetzan, the expansion features characters from the city's three ruling crime families - the brutish Grimy Goons, the shadowy assassins of the Jade Lotus, and the crazed spellcasters of the Kabal. With their own minions, spells and weapons, each family is formed from an allegiance of three different Hearthstone classes, resulting in tri-class cards, usable by heroes of any of those three classes.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan cards are available through the following options:

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs can be purchased through the Shop, with the usual prices and purchasing options.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan cards can be crafted for the usual amounts of Arcane Dust.

For as long Mean Streets of Gadgetzan is the latest expansion, the guaranteed card pack from each Arena run will be from the expansion. Once the next expansion comes out, second card packs will have a chance to be Mean Streets of Gadgetzan packs.

Prior to March 28, 2017,[3] a special introductory quest chain was available to players, awarding a total of 6 Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs if completed. For details, see Launch event, below.

Pre-order

Prior to the expansion's release, players were able to pre-order a bundle of 50 Mean Streets of Gadgetzan packs for $49.99 USD/€44,99 EUR/£34.99 GBP/$64.99 AUD or equivalent.[4][5]

The packs were not available until after the expansion was released.[4]

There was no pre-order card back for this expansion.[6] This is because adding an in-game reward would have required a patch, which would have required "significant lead time"; something that was unavailable due to the short time window between revealing the set and its release. The patch could not have been made until after the reveal since that would have spoiled the expansion.[6] The pre-purchase option was only available through the official site (and not in-game) for the same reasons.[6]

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan is the first expansion to feature tri-class cards, special cards usable by any of the three specific classes corresponding to the matching crime family. Fittingly, many tri-class cards feature effects that cross the normal class lines, such as allowing players to Discover cards from any of the three matching classes. The boss of each crime family is a legendary tri-class card.

For game purposes, tri-class cards count as belonging to all of the corresponding classes. This allows heroes of any of those classes to include them in their decks. Class-related cards treat them as belonging to any of those classes,[7] such as allowing them to be Discovered by cards like Journey Below and A Light in the Darkness.[8] Tri-class cards are found in the neutral section in the collection manager, but are marked as belonging to their respective classes and are only displayed if an eligible class (or no class) is selected.[9]

Tri-class cards produce a semi-exclusive overlap in class cards, and are intended to help convey each family's alliance of classes, and "bind those classes together".[10] They are presented sparingly in order to avoid too much similarity between decks of the included classes for each family.[10]

Tri-class cards feature their distinctive family icon in the top-left corner, on a banner which constantly changes color to represent the three corresponding classes. During gameplay, the banner becomes the color of the hero's class.

"The Grimy Goons sure picked a flattering name for themselves. They’re your gangsters and weapon smugglers, eager to make their coin by equipping Gadgetzan with all sorts of untested and illegal weaponry. They’re easy to pick out of a crowd; you can usually smell ‘em before you see ‘em, but watch out for ill-fitting brown vests and garish orange ties. What they don’t have in brains, they make up with brawn."[5]

"The Grimy Goons specialize in arms dealing and disorganized crime, employing Hunters, Warriors, and Paladins to their aid. They want to be sure they come out on top once they make their big debut on the streets, and they’ll make sure to enforce the Goons’ way of doing things. The brutish ogre, Don Han’cho, leads the Grimy Goons, proving two heads are buffer—and better—than one!"[11]

"Know when to hold 'em: Many Grimy Goons cards will buff minions in your hand."[12]

The Grimy Goons combine the brawn of the Warrior with the firepower of the Hunter and the self-righteousness of the Paladin. Packing plenty of muscle-power and some fearsome weapons, the Grimy Goons bring their own brand of justice to the streets of Gadgetzan.

The Goons recently bought the First Bank of Gadgetzan, and are preparing for a "hostile takover" of the entire city by hoarding weapons and recruiting new allies. The family controls the Grimestreet neighbourhood, which may also be the location of the gang's headquarters.[13]

"Need some mana quick? The Kabal got you covered. These crazy chemists control the illicit mana trade in Gadgetzan, and there’s never a shortage of magic-users looking for a little extra boost to their latest potent potable or kooky concoction. Just a warning: never drink what they offer you. You may up [sic] with a fuzzy coat of wool, or at the very least, a killer headache. Emphasis on the killer."[5]

"The Kabal’s Priests, Warlocks, and Mages excel in potion making, and they profit off the sale and trade of their mysterious and potent red mana. Whether you’re cooking up something to give you the upper hand or to blow your opponent to smithereens, you can never be quite sure what’s in a Kabalist’s potion vial. The expert mixologist and leader of the Kabal, Kazakus, can even create a custom potion for you on the fly, giving you the edge exactly when you need it."[11]

"Masters of potions: The Kabal bring with them an arsenal of potent potables!"[14]

Mixing the arcane mastery of the Mage with the mind-control magic of the Priest, plus just a dash of the Warlock's unspeakable powers, the Kabal have brewed up quite a cocktail in the backstreets of Gadgetzan.

Situated in the city's docks, the Kabal control the Gadgetzan Mega Market - putting them in an excellent position to obtain the endless supply of ingredients necessary to brew their many potions. The Kabal supply Kaza-kola and other brews for the entire city, but save their most potent concoctions for those loyal to the faction.[15]

"Members of the Jade Lotus family excel in the ancient arts of stealth, assassination, and turning murlocs into finjas. Yeah, I said finjas. Don’t give me that look. I didn’t come up with that name. Rumor has it they’re meddling with some sort of ancestral juju and hitting the local art and relic exhibits—I don’t know how true that is, but I’ll tell you one thing: the statues outside their business are really creepy."[5]

"The secret arts of the Jade Lotus come to life through Rogues, Shamans, and Druids. These mystics and assassins lurk in the shadows, waiting for the next unfortunate target to walk down the wrong alley. Utilizing ancient and forbidden arts, the Jade Lotus and their mysterious leader have their own way of taking care of business—efficiently and quietly. Rumor has it they have an even greater secret just waiting to be unearthed..."[11]

"Silent, but deadly: The Jade Lotus use stealth and Jade Golems to crush their enemies."[16]

The shadowy streets of the city hide more than just shady deals - the Jade Lotus combine the stealth of the Rogue and versatility of the Druid with the ancestral power of the Shaman, for a clan that is sure to take any opponent by surprise.

All across Gadgetzan, jade artifacts are going missing, but few suspect the terrible plot behind their disappearance: the building of an unstoppable army of Jade Golems, soon to be unleashed upon the city in the name of the Jade Lotus.

Summoned in the blink of an eye through the magic of Aya Blackpaw herself, each Jade Golem is more powerful than the last. Aya has even granted many of her followers with trinkets to summon the living statues to do their bidding.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan features Hearthstone's first dynamic card text, based on player actions and choices within each match. Any card text that summons a Jade Golem changes automatically to reflect the stats of the coming Golem, while Kazakus's Battlecry allows the player to form a unique spell card on the fly through its series of choice cards.

The expansion brings with it a new battlefield, depicting the eponymous "mean streets" of Gadgetzan, with a corner dedicated to each of the ruling crime families: Corrupted mana crystals spill out of the Kabal corner in the top-left; the industrial stronghold of the Grimy Goons stands firm in the top-right; and the secretive den of the Jade Lotus beckons from the bottom-right. The bottom-left corner represents the city's docks, critical to its recent boom from sleepy desert town to bustling metropolis.[17]

From the expansion's release until March 28, 2017,[3] players were able to access a special quest chain, introducing them to the expansion's three crime families, and awarding some free card packs.

During the sequence players are approached in turn by the leaders of the three families, each bringing with them a special quest, as well as a short piece of dialogue, with the player encouraged and/or threatened to assist the family by fighting for them on the streets of Gadgetzan.

The player is first approached by Don Han'Cho, leader of the Grimy Goons, to help out by fighting alongside the Goons on the streets of Gadgetzan. Once the "Join the Goons" quest is completed, the player is then approached by the leaders of the Jade Lotus and the Kabal in turn, until finally they are left to decide for themselves which family to fight for from here on in.

Name

Requirements

Reward

Welcome to Gadgetzan

You're on the wrong side of town...This quest is quickly shot up (possibly by Han'Cho) and replaced by "Join the Goons"

0 gold

Join the Goons

Win 3 games as a Hunter, Paladin, or Warrior.

2 Mean Streets of Gadgetzan card packs

A Job for Ya'

Destroy 100,000 minions.Given after completing "Join the Goons", this is swiftly sliced and diced by unseen assassins, then replaced by "Join the Jade Lotus"

The quest sequence is accompanied by a series of encounters with the leaders of the three crime families. To read the transcript, click 'Expand', to the right.

The narrative begins when the player first logs in following the release of the expansion. As the "Today's Quests" screen comes up, they are awarded a new golden "Welcome to Gadgetzan" quest, and encounter the two-headed ogre Don Han'Cho.

With the streets of Gadgetzan thronging with eager new recruits, the official Mean Streets of Gadgetzan site was updated to feature a map of the city with colored areas indicating the current popularity of the three factions, based on the number of matches played by the classes affiliated with each crime family: purple for the Kabal, orange for the Grimy Goons and green for the Jade Lotus. In this way players were invited to fight for their chosen faction and sway the balance of power in the city.

The story so far

Starting at 33% for each family, the map was updated periodically to reflect the current state of the power struggle between the three factions. So far the clear winner has been the Kabal, although its initial lead of 37% has since slipped to a smaller 35% lead. Meanwhile, the Grimy Goons and the Jade Lotus have struggled for second place, with neither the clear victor.

Period

Grimy Goons

Jade Lotus

Kabal

Early December

31

32

37

Current

33

32

35

With the same data shown on both the Americas and EU sites, it is unknown whether the data reflects play across all game regions, some game regions (such as the Americas + EU), or simply the Americas region. The exact means by which match numbers are translated into the percentages is also unclear: the map seemingly directly reflects the proportion of games played with each class in the last week, but may only allow for incremental changes to each faction's percentage. The map is also updated extremely infrequently.

"You think you’re big time, kid? You ain’t seen nothing yet! Come take a walk on the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan and I’ll show you who the real bosses are around here.

Listen up, pal. The great big city of Gadgetzan dat you see before you? It started out as a sleepy little desert town and a twinkle in da eye of a few ambitious folks eager to get their stubby little mitts on some coin. It only took a convenient, earth-shattering dragon attack to turn what were a few desert shanties into a bustling seaport, and dat brought in a new era of trade. With trade came money, and with money came power. Don’t fall asleep on me, kid, I’m tryin’ to make a point here!

Whether you’re here to see the sights, sample a few of Gadgetzan’s five star-fire restaurants, or to find a new friend to watch your back, you should know what’s really goin’ on behind da scenes. Walk with me, I’ll show you the sights. Da architecture in this burg is first class!

Gadgetzan might look all excitin’ and cosmopoli-whateva on the outside—they have done a good job getting you tourists to visit, after all—but it’s also packed with hooligans, brawlers, and assassins down every alley, watching and lurking in the shadows. If the word on the street is true, you’ve made a bit of a name for yourself, and those unsavory characters are gonna want to make sure that you’re on their side or on no side at all, if you catch my drift. Better get to know da crime families that run the streets, and quick."[5]

Gadgetzan, the wondrous jewel of Tanaris, reports explosive economic growth and a boom in trade across the board, according to census data released from mayor Noggenfogger’s office. News of the city’s rocket-like ascent comes as no surprise; the recent flux of traders, merchants, businessmen both respectable and otherwise, as well as the daily arrival of more fortune-seekers speaks for itself. Of course, this uptick in activity hasn’t been without its downsides. Many residents complain of increased tension among the movers and shakers of Gadgetzan, which could spill into the streets at any moment… and if it does, you’ll read it here first!"[12]

If you pull up a chair outside Fizzgrimble’s Tavern and watch afternoon traffic flowing up and down Grimestreet, you may notice a few things about how our city has changed. Wagons carrying goods from faraway places, guarded by shifty-looking fellows in bowler hats; vendors loudly hawking their mystical wares from stalls that choke the streets, ready to sell you any potion or spell you want, for a price; and, all but invisible to the untrained observer, shadowy figures blending into the crowds, keeping an eye on everything. Who are these people? What are they doing in our city? In our upcoming series of exposés, we go underground and undercover to reveal who really runs the mean streets of Gadgetzan!"[12]

The bustling port town of Gadgetzan has ushered in a new era of trade, but the city’s success has led to its unfortunate occupation by some rather unruly denizens, each with their own agendas. Crime families run the streets, each led by a powerful figurehead pulling the strings from the shadows.

Nestled in the desert of Tanaris, the once land-locked goblin town of Gadgetzan was a haven for shady dealings and rule-bending trade, its locals and visitors showing no favoritism toward the Alliance nor the Horde. After the black dragon Deathwing tore apart Tanaris’ landscape with his fury, Gadgetzan suddenly found itself sitting aside the sea, the lucky recipient of an expanse of new beachfront property!

With its new ports, trade boomed in Gadgetzan. The influx of trade stuffed the coffers of those on the ground floor of the development of new Gadgetzan. Everyone who was anyone wanted a piece of the action, using all the tricks up their sleeves to get the upper hand. Organized crime developed as the power struggle began to grow in the now bustling Gadgetzan—it was no longer the sleepy city it once was!

Three distinct crime families came out on top of the power struggle, but as of yet there has been no clear winner. It’s up to you to make new friends (and perhaps a few new enemies) as you make a name for yourself in the Mean Streets of Gadgetzan![11]

"Welcome to Grimestreet, kid. We heard you was lookin’ for a family to join, so you just walked down the right alley. We’re the Grimy Goons, the toughest family in Gadgetzan, and we’re gonna be the ones who own this town.

Han is a criminal mastermind—a real genius—and Cho? Well, Cho isn’t the sharpest axe in the armory, but he hits like a runaway kodo. More like a stampede of runaway kodos. Maybe you’ve heard dat two-headed ogres got some serious magical chops, but not Don Han’Cho. The Don don’t need magic cuz he’s got us, da Grimy Goons. We done real good for him too, what with all the robbin’, extortin’, blackmailin’—y’know all the good crimes. Not to mention our speciality: arms smugglin’.

You might think Don Han’Cho has it all: he just bought the First Bank of Gadgetzan, he takes a cut from da loot fenced at da Gadgetzan Emporium, and he’s got a tight grip on the whole Grimestreet neighborhood. Believe me, Grimestreet is just the beginning, my friend. Don Han’Cho is preparin’ for a hostile takeover of Gadgetzan, so he’s been recruiting new Goons non-stop and stockpiling weapons like you wouldn’t believe. Now he’s got the most muscle, and arsenals stashed down every side-street and bolt-hole in dis town.

"Dis is my favorite part of being a Goon! We get the guns. And when I say guns, I mean the BIG guns, includin’ some very choice engineering.

Grapplehammer is a talented guy, and his people dole out upgraded gear through the city’s pawn shops. It’s not just hardware neither; we also got access to some pretty scary beasts from da Arena! Basically, Goons stick together and we got all the best toys, so you ain’t never gonna get into a fight without some back up. Even the littlest guy can be a heavy hitter with the right pea-shooter in da violin case.

Us Goons always try to smuggle in some hardware before we get into a brawl. So, here’s how that works. When a fellow Goon is played, they’ll make arrangements for their back-up to get some of the weapons we stashed in Gadgetzan. That can come in the shape of some very beefy buffs to the minions in your hand. Just wait ‘til you get a load of the goods in Don Han’Cho’s private stash!"

Da Goons

"Not just any joe-schmoe or jane-schmane can be a Grimy Goon, kid.

You tough? Can you handle yourself in a stand-up fight? Good. You gotta know your way around weapons too, since that’s the edge (heh, see what I did there?) we got against the jerks who are trying to take OUR city. Having a sense of style is a plus. Think hats, vests, pinstripes, suspenders—that kind of thing. It’s not mandatory, but it’ll help keep you from gettin’ ventilated once the lead starts to fly, and you’ll look good doin’ it.

We’re the tough guys. That means we got Hunters, we got Warriors, and we even got Paladins. Da Warriors are natural rough n’ tumble types, Hunters are amazin’ shots, and you ain’t never met an enforcer like an angry Paladin. They make sure everybody on Grimestreet follows da rules. Our rules.

The bottom line for you is that some cards got the Grimy Goons symbol on ‘em right under the mana cost. Looks like a couple of spiked clubs. If a card got the sign, you can stick it in a Hunter, Warrior, OR Paladin deck. Pretty swell, huh?"

Da Other Guys

"Word on the street is that the other guys, the loony Kabal potion-leggers and those sneaky Jade Lotus weasels*, will probably send a recruiter your way. Dat’s fine—hear them out, then you forget all about ‘em and come back to us. We’ll take good care of you. Goons gotta stick together, right?

As a little thank you for seeing us first, here’s a token of our appreciation.

Is the recent spike in contraband moving through Gadgetzan linked to the meteoric rise of the gang known as the Grimy Goons? Our sources say, “Yes!” Also, “Please don’t quote me on that.” Gunrunning, back alley fighting, gambling… from small-time buccaneers to big-time racketeers, the Grimy Goons have their fingers in every pot. Their brand of disorganized crime caters to ruffians, bruisers, and brawlers; as a matter of fact, pugilistic tendencies seem to be highly valued among the Grimy Goons."[12]

"Yeah yeah, spare me the sermon, I ain't got all day. Listen, if ya wanna roll with the Goons, ya gotta show us some loyalty, see? You help us take care of business, and maybe we'll put in a good word with the boss. Sound like a deal? 'Course it does! Now get moving, spud!"[12]

"YOU DESIRE TO JOIN THE KABAL?Shhhhh! Keep your voice down! The OTHERs have spies everywhere! I’ll start again: Do you seek unimaginable POWER!? Will you bask in the GLORY of the great alchemist KAZAKUS? Then you may have come to the right place. Were you followed? No?

Quickly! Come inside!

The Elixir

First, here’s a small taste of what awaits you when you get “mixed” up with the Kabal!

DON’T DRINK IT! I was speaking metaphorically! If you’re thirsty, have a Kaza-kola instead. Kazakus brews it himself, and we all drink it. It’s cold, delicious, and refreshing! Ooh! That reminds me! I wonder how I can better serve his every whim?

At least you’ve proven that you have the fearlessness and experimental spirit needed to be a credit to the Kabal. Under Kazakus’ tutelage we have learned to concoct all manner of potions. Under his guidance we are Gadgetzan’s master mixologists, brewing potions of power so POTENT they petrify our puny opponents. So overwhelming they overpower the opposition! So EXPLOSIVE they—what was I talking about? IT DOESN’T MATTER!

The Kabal

We of the Kabal embrace those unwelcome elsewhere. We are outcast Priests, Mages, and Warlocks whose methods are too EXTREME for our colleagues. All that hand-wringing over silly things like mutations, toxicity, and side effects. Those cowards lack vision! We are at our STRONGEST when our decks only have a SINGLE COPY of each card! We of the Kabal embrace power NO MATTER THE PRICE!

Alchemy is great fun, but it isn’t cheap, so we’ve entrenched ourselves in the docks, and we control the Gadgetzan Mega Market. It’s no secret volcano fortress, but it does make it easy for us to traffic in the ingredients we require for our more exotic brews, and for our couriers to distribute our wares to thirsty buyers throughout the city. Only the weaker brews of course. We save the best for ourselves.

Once you come to the inevitable conclusion that the only path toward true mastery lies with US—here, have some more ice-cold Kaza-kola—you’ll need to dress the part. I think red or purple robes can be quite fetching. Some of us pay a visit to Inkmaster Solia to receive one of her glorious glowing crimson tattoos. A tattoo from her not only marks your dedication to the Kabal, but can serve as a handy nightlight or massive reservoir of power in a pinch.

The Master

Little is known about our esteemed leader, the master alchemist Kazakus. WHO CARES? What matters is his vast knowledge of alchemy and the arcane, and the delicious power he offers binds us to him. . . TOGETHER! It binds us together, yes. Some claim that a back alley potion brewer couldn’t possibly have such knowledge, and some are foolish enough to spread rumors that he’s secretly a dragon, demon, or some other powerful entity in disguise.

LIES! SLANDER! DEFAMATION!

MAYBE IT’S ALL TRUE!

NO ONE KNOWS!

WHAT?

The Others

You have already heard from those brutish miscreants, the Grimy Goons. There is little doubt that agents of the Jade Lotus will soon leave some irritatingly cryptic note on your pillow or some such nonsense. Neither can offer what the Kabal can offer. REAL power. In a bottle!

Hardly a day goes by without yet another magical incident; just yesterday, three were injured in an explosion on New Drudgetown Lane caused by an unlicensed alchemy laboratory going up in smoke. Our contacts within the constabulary confirm that responsibility for this spike in thaumaturgic mayhem sweeping our fair city lies with a secretive organization known as the Kabal. Dealing in potions and peddling unaccredited magical services, the Kabal have secured a slice of Gadgetzan’s underworld through cunning, trickery, and arcane machinations that would make the boldest blastmage blush."[14]

"Maybe you were born with a special gift; maybe you spend countless hours studying forbidden tomes; or maybe you are driven to seek answers to questions no "sane" magician would ever ask. If any of these sound like you, then there is a place for you among the Kabal. Of course, spots are limited, so admissions to the Kabal may require... tryouts."[14]

The Kabal appear to be behind the corrupted "red mana" that has been turning up in Gadgetzan lately. The Kabal use the mana not only in their potions but as a source of power, with many having the mana tattooed into their skin for use at a moment's notice. However, this corrupted mana has a price, as seen in the unnaturally contorted tusks of the Kabal's leader Kazakus.[17]

The Kabal use a variety of external power sources to fuel their magic, from their home-brewed potions to magical tomes and scrolls. The mana used by the Kabal is both highly powerful and dangerously unstable, and for this reason even their flasks are wrapped in magical chains, to contain the power inside. Without proper control, some of the Kabal's creations might even be capable of levelling Gadgetzan. The Kabal also dabble in portal magic, most notably seen in the portal in Kazakus' midriff, rumoured to lead to another dimension.[17]

"Ah, excellent, you have received our message. We are the Jade Lotus, and most denizens of Gadgetzan think us criminals. We are so much more than mere thieves and assassins.

Come, I will show you.

Jade Lotus

Most of our “family” is made up of pandaren, hozen, mantid, jinyu—even virmen—who came from the distant shores of Pandaria. We have found disciples here, teaching our ways to eager new students. We are Rogues, Druids, and Shaman. We own the shadows, we command ancient spirits, and we bend the forces of nature to our will. We involve ourselves in the petty conflict that divides this city only for as long as it will take to remove those who stand against us.

In taverns, alleyways, and tea houses throughout Gadgetzan, the foolish whisper fearfully about the mysterious Jade Lotus. They say we lurk in every shadow. They speak of strange magic never seen before. They do not understand us because our motives are not like theirs. Our one purpose in this city has been to acquire jade for our leader. Not for wealth. No, our secret lies in how the magic within these stones can be drawn forth to create Jade Golems, powerful living statues that do our bidding. Many of us have been granted trinkets that can summon these warriors in the blink of an eye. More impressive, each Jade Golem we summon arrives more powerful than the last. Soon we will unleash them upon Gadgetzan and our enemies will know what it is to face a truly unrelenting foe.

Until then, they frighten each other with stories of our leader, saying things such as, “Hey, watch yer back, or White Eyes’ll jump outta da shadows and getcha” with that ridiculous accent. Nonetheless, the rumors surrounding White Eyes are surprisingly close to the truth. He is a powerful warrior—we know him to be as immovable as a mountain and as pitiless as a storm—but the taletellers are missing one important detail. A secret most of our family does not even know. He is not the leader of the Jade Lotus. He’s merely a figurehead, and the real power behind the Jade Lotus comes in a smaller—though no less dangerous—form. . . .

Deadly Bloom

Aya Blackpaw is the last living heir of the wealthy Blackpaw family. Using the Gadgetzan Museum of Ancient Artifacts as her headquarters, and shrouding her activities behind her family’s reputation as generous philanthropists, she issues orders to us through her loyal bodyguard and servant, White Eyes. She is the true leader of the Jade Lotus.

Aya is youthful, energetic, and seemingly impulsive. That is a mask; in truth she is calculating, ruthless, and as hard as the jade we steal for her. Crucially, young Aya has the unique ability to create Jade Golems, and she is the source of the trinkets that so many of us carry. How she came by this incredible power is a mystery, though I swear I have seen her communing with the spirit of a Mogu king I could not name. Such a being must be most ancient indeed.

However it was that she came by her gift, Aya has successfully created an army of Jade Golems. What task she intends for them, and for us, is a mystery . . . but the Jade Lotus will be ready.

Fools and Fanatics

We were your shadow as you walked down filthy alleys with the aptly named Grimy Goons. We were listening as you endured the Kabal’s ceaseless, senseless babble. Now we reveal ourselves to offer you a place with the only current of true power running through this city.

We are the Jade Lotus, and we are watching. When you return to your home, we have left a token—a gift—to remind you."[18]

The only thing more mysterious than the Jade Lotus is the shadowy figure pulling the strings behind the scenes. What are they after? Who is directing their operations? And where are they getting those fabulous costumes, which our style beat correspondent referred to saying 'Girl, if their poison-tipped daggers, ancient magic, and peerless martial prowess don’t slay you, their sense of style will, because they’re killing it! Seriously though, they’re killers. Don’t print this.'"[16]

"We have had our eyes on you for quite some time now, friend. Oh, do not be surprised; nothing escapes the Jade Lotus. An agent of your skills may prove useful to our goals in Gadgetzan. If you agree to see to a few small tasks on our behalf, we would be honor-bound to induct you into our order. But beware, for failure... well, you will not fail, yes? Yes. Now, let us begin."[16]

With the headline "City Builds First Unbreakable Bank", the first edition's lead story, written by "Chief Investigative Reporter" Dora R, reports that goblin contractors working for Mayor Noggenfogger have finished construction on the new "state of the art" First Bank of Gadgetzan building, to open to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony the next week. The Mayor is quoted going to great lengths to emphasise how bank robber-proof (and kodo-proof) the new vault is, stating, "I declare this bank 110% unrobbable, and I can't wait to see the look on the faces of any poor saps who try!" The animated version of the main photo shows a Boulderfist Ogre attacking the photographer, possibly during a previous break-in attempt. The sheet also features several adverts for local businesses, including Grapplehammer's "Gadgetzan Emporium", Tuskarr Bros. Funnel Cakes, Crazy Smeed's Used Kodo Dealership, Genzo's Payday Loans, and Talan's Bar.

Volume 32, number 8 of the Gazette bears the headline "Gadgetzan Port Promotes Prosperity!". The lead article discusses how Gadgetzan has thrived since the Cataclysm, with the new waterfront transforming it into "Azeroth's premier port city and shopping destination" - with a little help from Mayor Noggenfogger's admirably open-minded attitude toward the "silly laws and regulations" seen in other cities. The Mayor also stamps out rumours that his policies (or lack thereof) have allowed "a new class of hoodlum" to flourish in the ever so slightly lawless streets of the city, and expressed incredulity at the hearsay regarding cloaked and hooded figures, illicit potion smuggling, and "a strange red mana" seeming to originate in the port district, assuring readers that the whispers of dragon people in disguise infiltrating the city were purely conspiracy theories. The Mayor did however confirm that the Gadgetzan Mega Market found in the city's port district's is the "Mega-est Market in the World".

Beyond the lead article, the page featured a similar smattering of adverts as seen in the previous edition, chiefly announcing the Gadgetzan Mega Market and its many shops, as well as the "healthful crimson potion" known as Kaza-Cola.

With the headline "Civilization Comes to the City", the third edition's lead article describes the upcoming opening of a "world-class museum" in Gadgetzan, set in one of Mayor Noggenfogger's old mansions, recently purchased by the Blackpaw family, described as "noted philanthropists". The mansion was intentionally chosen due to being over underground ruins pre-dating the construction of Gadgetzan; while some speculate that the site is haunted by restless spirits, the museum owners consider the underlying ruins useful for storing artifacts when not on display. Despite its already considerable collection, the article explains that the museum is currently busy obtaining additional artifacts, offering rewards for Gadgetzan citizens who have "put on an archaeologist's hat" to sift rare and interesting finds from the city's flow of goods - although they appear to be having difficulty putting the finishing touches to its jade collection, with items containing the precious stone having recently featured in a spate of mysterious disappearances. The article also mentions that museum's upcoming "Mysteries of Pandaria" exhibit is to be curated by Madam Goya (former leader of the Black Market Auction House). The front page photograph depicts the same skeleton that appears to be drawing a number of visitors to the town, at least according to Talan.

This edition's adverts include Finjitsu International ("Learn MMA (Murloc Martial Arts) in a judgement free and suitably moist dojo"), and a "Jade 4 Gold!" service.

The fourth and final edition ran with the headline "Crime Family Feud Heats Up/'Pick a Side or Pick a New Town'". The lead article describes a brawl the previous week in Talan's Bar, which was being hailed as "the fight of the century", stating that relations between the three families has "never been more volatile". Other front page articles describe a "ritzy soiree" being hosted by Mayor Noggenfogger, with invitees including the heads of the city's three crime families, and an upcoming "wealth seminar" to be hosted by "Gadgetzan's King of Bling" Auctionmaster Beardo. An editorial spotlight mentions that mana addiction is on the rise in the city, with gadgetzan authorities accused of profiling suspects with red tatoos.

The back page of the final edition was released shortly after the front page, featuring Business, Sports, Arts & Leisure, Lifestyle and Help Wanted sections. The Business section runs with the story "First Bank of Gadgetzan Opens Under New Management!", discussing the re-opening of the bank after being acquired by Don Han'Cho. The article reports that after cutting the ribbon, Cho said that "Dis Bank good. Plenty of dough", after which Han continued "Please pardon my associate's rough manners. I am proud to say that the First Bank of Gadgetzan will serve as a symbol of wealth and opportunity for all of Gadgetzan's citizens. If you are one of those wealth seeking opportunists, come see us; we'll beat ANY competitor." The Sports section's article, titled "Knuckles Defends Arena Title Amid Accusations Of Performance-Enhancing Bananas" and subtitled "Claims, 'I get my fruit from trees I knock down with my bare hands like everyone else'" discusses how Knuckles, the 32-time arena champion of Gadgetzan's Thunderdome, armed with nothing more than his watermelon-sized fists, seems to be an unstoppable force in the cage and how he is satisfied with getting paid in produce, but reports that sports critics have been suspicious of Knuckles ever since the revelation that the fruit the gorilla is so fond of comes from a banana tree near a tainted pool by Sandsorrow Watch.

The Arts & Leisure section reports a short speech given by curator Madam Goya at the opening gala of the Gadgetzan Museum of Ancient Artifacts: "It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome the people of Gadgetzan to what is now surely the world's finest museum. This, of course, is only the beginning! Our ancient past conceals wonders untold, and I am confident that you will find our future exhibits to be most... thrilling." The Lifestyle section tells how the city's population is booming, including the rekindled fortunes of a former Doomsayer, turned plumbing proprietor.

Despite issue #10 being labeled as the "final edition", Vol. 32 #11 was released close to a week after the back page of #10 was published. The lead article, "BANK BURGLED!", discusses how "a group of armed hooligans" dressed in brown hats and vests with orange ties rode an enormous, heavily armored kodo through an exterior wall of the First Bank of Gadgetzan and directly into a high-security bank vault in a "daring daylight raid". This triggered the bank's anti-theft mechanisms, causing anti-kodo bars to drop across all doorways in the building, thus preventing the bank's Bruisers from reaching the ruffians. The robbers stole several crates of jade antiquities, a quantity of Arcane Dust and a number of unused Hearthstone deck boxes, and reportedly took the time to swim in piles of gold coins while making rude gestures and exclaiming "Astounding" and "Astonishing" before disappearing into the city with the valuables. After the robbery, the bank's owner, Don Han'Cho, was strangely calm, with Han stating that: "Hey, it's a bank. You put a bunch of valuables all in one place and it's only natural that somebody's gonna try to take it. These things happen right? Fortunately, the First Bank of Gadgetzan is prepared to offer low interest loans to bank customers who are urgently in need of funds, and insurance to cover losses in case of future theft. Terms and conditions may apply, of course." The Blackpaw family, whose valuables were stored in the vault, released the simple statement that "We are confident that the one responsible for this vile act will be found and punished. Severely." The article goes on to report that some think the robbery to have been an inside job. An anonymous bank employee in the form of a 3'3'' male goblin, with a tattoo of a coin on his wrist and a scar above his left eye, was quoted as saying "C'mooon. How'd they know which wall to knock down?"

Another article further down the page reports that all seventeen Tuskarr Bros. Funnel Cakes franchises in the shopping district's Food Kingdom, mentioned in an ad on the first edition of the Gadgetzan Gazette, are under investigation for peddling fraudulent foodstuffs and have been closed pending the results of the investigation. An "unpaid and wholly independent investigator" is quoted as blaming Mayor Noggenfogger for several Mega Market customers becoming seriously ill, stating that the mayor's irresponsible lack of regulation is allowing hucksters like the Tuskarr Bros. to sell substandard funnel cake to the public. The unnamed investigator goes on to point out that while the Tuskarr Bros. claim that all their funnel cake is freshly picked, one example has wilted leaves and seems to be made out of plaster. The article also reports that a spokesperson for the Mega Market revealed plans to replace the Tuskarr Bros. franchises with new Mega Market branded funnel cake stands offering ice-cold Kaza-kola. The article concludes by stating that in the wake of the Tuskarr Bros. shop closure, their competitors haven't "been loafing around" and that several new bakeries have cropped up overnight.

The page features two ads, one for "Mysterious Flatbread Inc.", with an image of a Mysterious Challenger wearing a chef's hat and wielding a rolling pin and the slogan "Who are we? Naan is our business!" The other ad is for "Rye-connaissance Bakery", "Gadgetzan's ONLY combination Stormwind Style Bakery & Spy Gadget Emporium", with an image of an SI:7 Agent wearing a similar chef's hat next to the tagline "This guy's toast is the best in town".

Newcomers in the bustling city could do worse than to seek the advice and acquaintance of local barkeep Talan, owner of the aptly-named Talan's Bar. With his place of business putting him in prime position to hear the word on what's brewing in Gadgetzan, Talan has helped more than one new arrival to find their place on the city's mean and unforgiving streets. For a run-down on Talan's tips for surviving the city, see Talan's Bar, below. Alternatively, visit the bar and ask him yourself.

Gadgetzan is a goblin city situated in the desert of Tanaris, on the south-east coast of Kalimdor. Frequented and inhabited by merchants and adventurers of both the Alliance and the Horde, the city remains protected by the strict goblin neutrality that was standard prior to the Bilgewater Cartel's induction into the Horde.

Rising out of the northern Tanaris desert, Gadgetzan is the capital of the Steamwheedle Cartel the largest of the Goblin Cartels. Although it used to be surrounded by desert, since the Shattering it is now a prime beachfront property. Some of the best goblin engineers, miners and alchemists ply their trade here. The goblins believe in profit above loyalty, thus Gadgetzan is considered neutral territory in the Horde/Alliance conflict. Anyone with a fat wallet or services to offer is welcome in Gadgetzan. Both governments officially recognize goblin neutrality, and for those who don't, the streets are heavily patrolled by goblin bruisers ready to pound to a pulp anyone disrupting their trade by instigating conflict.

With the Cataclysm Steamwheedle Port and many parts of Tanaris were flooded, making Gadgetzan a port. Some Tanaris goblins wisely invested in desert real estate and reaped the benefits when it became beach-front property.

The Southsea Freebooters, a small fleet of pirates, have no landward home — at least none that authorities have found — but are a common sight along the coast of the Barrens and Tanaris, and have even recently appeared in the flooded Thousand Needles. Their connection with the Northsea Freebooters is unclear, but the Northsea Freebooters seem to have a severe disliking of the Southsea ones.

The Southsea Freebooters have several bases located along the southeastern coasts of Kalimdor.

Hearthstone already features a number of goblins, including two that specifically hail from Gadgetzan: Gadgetzan Auctioneer and the Gadgetzan Jouster. Goblins were the theme of the game's first expansion, Goblins vs Gnomes, and since their original introduction in Warcraft II have always been associated with fiery (and mostly intentional) explosions, and in World of Warcraft became known for their unpredictable and often catastrophic inventions. In Hearthstone they have come to epitomise RNG. For more on the history of goblins in Hearthstone, see Goblin.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan appears to have begun life as a concept by senior game designer Matt Place: a murloc, in pinstripes, with a bowler hat on its head, a cigar in its mouth, and a gatling guns in its hands. Designer Dean Ayala recalls, "[Place] came to me with gangster Murlocs...it was hard to say no." Senior producer Yong Woo's enthusiasm for the project was fuelled by memories of playing World of Warcraft with his sister He-Rim Woo (who also works on the Hearthstone team), when they would "smuggle goods" from the Alliance to the Horde through the neutral auctioneers in Gadgetzan.[19]

The expansion was originally going to be "cops and robbers" themed, before the decision was made to focus on the robbers.[20] An earlier name for the expansion appears to have been "Gangs of Gadgetzan", with the expansion still referred to as "Gangs" in the game's data files.[21]

The first apparent teaser for the expansion came on October 24, 2016,[22] when the official Twitter account posted a "postcard" bearing the text "Greetings from GADGETZAN / It's as clean as it is safe!*"

Sharp-eyed readers spotted that the asterisk indicated an extremely lengthy disclaimer printed in extremely small letters, written around the outside of the image. In typical goblin fashion, it reads:

The next day, on October 25, the official Twitter account posted the front page of what would become the first of several editions of the Gadgetzan Gazette ("The city's BEST newspaper. The city's ONLY newspaper.").[25] With the headline "City Builds First Unbreakable Bank", the lead article discussed the construction of the new "state of the art" First Bank of Gadgetzan building.

When the expansion itself was revealed at BlizzCon 2016, each edition of the Gadgetzan Gazette was found in hindsight to describe the actions and rumours surrounding one of the three crime families: the Grimy Goons, the Kabal and the Jade Lotus, respectively. Following the revealing of the expansion, two subsequent editions were released, with a more diverse focus, describing events taking place across the city. For summaries, see the Lore section.

On November 2nd, two days before the expansion was revealed, the official Instagram account posted an image of the "Greetings From Gadgetzan" postcard, along with a variety of other items, including mana crystals and a number of coins.[28] The coins appear to be golden and bear the image of a ship above the skull and crossbones, the traditional symbol of pirates, as well as the words "Absolutum Dominium", Latin for "absolute dominion" or "complete ownership". The scene also features a pen, envelope and pre-written postcard, with the message "Wish you were here" followed by a heart. The message appears signed J or T, possibly with the rest of the name obscured by another postcard.

The one advert featured in every edition of the Gadgetzan Gazette was that for Talan's Bar. The advert contained a URL linking to a special site where readers could exchange messages with Talan, the bar's owner and apparent barkeep. Various replies and outcomes were possible depending on the reader's input. Multiple versions of the encounter were also presented over time as part of the expansion reveal; see below for later appearances.

The original version of the encounter served as a teaser to the still unannounced expansion. After mixing the adventurer one of a number of inadvisable drinks, the goblin provides a little background on what's been going on in Gadgetzan:

Hey, well... trying it gets you points. At least you're not a coward. Maybe I can trust you...

...even if you are new in town.

Right. So.. tuck into that [drink name] and lemme tell you something...

Listen to me... Gadgetzan ain't what it looks like.

We got all kindsa new businesses opening up, selling who knows what...I mean, this guy... a businessman?! [Image of blood elf outside shop]

And the new manager at the bank? Uhh... I'm not sure how he's gonna handle our money... [Image of ogre cutting ribbon]

But there's other stuff going on right out in the open and people don't even notice... [Image of gathered crowd]

Just look at that. Tell me what's going on there?

"Welcome to Gadgetzan. I'm Talan."

*You say: "Some sort of fight? A show?"*

Well played, [name].. I didn't think you'd catch that so quick.

You're a sharp piece of cheddar, aren'tcha?

I'm thinking you might be perfect for an... opportunity coming up.

Let's call it a little test.

Just a few casual questions I use to, uh.....size a person up.

See how they might best fit into, uh, operations around here.

At this point, Talan asks the adventurer a series of multiple-choice questions. If the answers are to the goblin's liking, he replies:

Well.. I think I have all the information I need.

You're.. well, you're not as useless as I thought.

I have some people in mind who might want to meet you down the line.

You gonna be around Gadgetzan for a while? Well, either way, I'll be able to find you.

Like I said... with an opportunity. Of sorts.

In the meantime, keep on the lookout for what's really going on around here, yeah? You might learn something.

See ya.

Over the next month Talan would return at intervals to entertain his patrons with some new cards, often along with fresh conversation and questions.

In early November Talan returned to apprise readers of the outcome of the multiple-choice questions asked in the original encounter, sorting readers into one of the three crime families, and handing out a badge for their new gang. He then asked a variety of lore and trivia questions, potentially rewarding readers with a glimpse at some new cards: Worgen Greaser and Hired Gun.

The dialogue differs depending on the player's answers, but a transcript of one version can be found here.

The expansion was first revealed on November 4, at BlizzCon 2016, along with 31 cards. Following this, a number of cards began to be revealed in official blogs and various third-party reveals. With its distinctive three-pronged approach, the expansion's reveals were fittingly coordinated by family, with cards from the Grimy Goons (and therefore the corresponding classes) first to be revealed.

On November 7 a schedule was presented of the upcoming reveals by various streamers. Also opened was a weekly "mystery card" reveal, to be revealed once enough players had visited the official site's expansion page each day. While the Grimy Goons' card was revealed in good time, players failed to visit the Kabal page regularly enough to earn the reward; as a result, the card reveal was delayed until the following week. A message clarifying the conditionality of the reveal, as well as a new fixed time and date, was added for the final Jade Lotus card reveal, which players successfully completed.

New cards were also revealed each week through online exchanges with Talan (see above).

The remaining 35 cards were revealed in and shortly after a special live stream on November 28, hosted by Frodan and Senior Game Designer Matt Place. The stream saw Frodan playing a series of matches against designer Ryan "Realz" Masterson, with a number of premade decks: "W-ARRR-IOR" (warrior), "Create a Custom Victory" (mage), "InfiJade" (druid), and "Krul and Unusual" (warlock). Frodan won the series 3-1, although he lost the first game to Realz's Reno Jackson/Raza the Chained Dragon Priest deck.

Mean Streets of Gadgetzan was released in the Americas region on December 1, 2016.

The initial launch saw an unintentionally high rate of tri-class cards found in card packs being opened.[29] Some such as streamer Kripparrian accumulated more than 170 copies of some individual tri-class cards while opening their packs.[30]

This was corrected with a hotfix, but not until nearly 6 hours later, by which time a large number of players in the Americas region had opened packs, including those who preordered for the expansion.[30] Following the hotfix the developers announced that players who had already opened Mean Streets of Gadgetzan packs would be awarded compensation packs equal to 33% of the number of packs they had opened, rounded up, to a minimum of one, with the hotfix ensuring that no further packs would be affected.[30]

Within 9 hours of its release in the Americas, the expansion went live in all regions, with a December 2 release date in most regions.

The expansion's release saw a launch event involving players being invited to join each of the three families, with special quests rewarding players for completing matches with the corresponding classes. The official Mean Streets of Gadgetzan site was also updated to feature a live map of Gadgetzan with colored areas indicating the popularity of the three factions, based on the number of matches played by the classes affiliated with each crime family. For details, see Launch event.

It was decided to have three families since the nine classes divide neatly into three.[20]

The design for the Kabal family changed significantly during early development. They were always themed around mana crystals, but were originally designed around the idea that if the player spent all of their mana in a turn, they would get a bonus. The idea was scrapped, because if a player is already spending all of their mana in a turn, that's already a good thing and they're "already winning". The next idea instead caused the player to receive a bonus if they didn't spend all of their mana in a turn, but that idea was scrapped as well because it was unintuitive and because "leaving mana up just didn't feel good". Blizzard also experimented with the idea of red mana crystals, a mechanic that would turn a player's mana crystals from blue to red. One of the ideas was that there would be various cards that turned the crystals in a player's mana tray into red crystals, while other cards would synergize with the amount of red mana available (for example, "Battlecry: If you have three red mana crystals, deal 3 damage" or "Battlecry: Gain +1/+1 for each of your red mana crystals"). One of the issues was that the mechanic didn't display well on mobile devices, where a player's mana crystals aren't really visible half the time, though the main reason for its removal was that Blizzard wondered if the idea was "cool enough" and because of the lack of immediate payoff with the cards that only turned mana crystals red without gaining any benefit from them. The idea has not been entirely scrapped, however, and may resurface again in the future. When the red mana concept was scrapped, it was decided that due to the popularity of Reno Jackson decks and a desire to see it become a competitive deck rather than just a "for fun" deck, one of the Kabal mechanics would be to have cards similar to Reno as all four of the crime family's legendaries. However, it was later decided that a "no duplicates" theme wasn't quite enough as it was only present on the legendary cards, and since the flavor of mixing potions was already present in several Kabal cards, it was decided to make potions the Kabal's "sub-theme". The Kabal spells, with the exception of one card, were all renamed to potions, while the Kabal's common tri-class card, Kabal Chemist, was given the effect of adding a random potion to a player's hand.[33]

The differing architecture of the three crime families. From left to right: the Grimy Goons, the Jade Lotus, and the Kabal.

The artistic design process for the expansion included creating buildings and distinct architecture for each crime family. Concept Artist Jomaro Kindred describes how the Kabal buildings were designed with a lot of triangular shapes, to communicate a sense of danger, visible in the shape of their windows and numerous hanging drapes as well as their skyline. The Grimy Goons' buildings were designed to feel strong and tough, with durable and heavy materials, an industrial feel and details such as bullet holes in the walls. The Jade Lotus' architecture was strongly inspired by the pandaren and their homeland of Pandaria, with elegant and distinctive features like the race's trademark lanterns, rounded forms and ornate design. Colour schemes were also key: The Kabal were depicted with a lot of pink and purple (fitting with their "red mana" concept), the Grimy Goons with earthy orange and brown, and the Jade Lotus with an appropriate green. These design decisions not only informed the overall concept of the expansion, but would go on to be featured in both promotional art, card art and the expansion's battlefield.[17]

When deciding the 'mood' for the expansion, the developers ultimately decided to have the expansion set fundamentally at night.[17] This served to establish a sense of danger and criminality, and is consistent in most card art.

Despite his sizeable role in the expansion's teaser campaign, Talan was never a card, only a lore character.[34]

Talan and the artwork pieces used in both Talan's Bar and The Gadgetzan Gazette were depicted by artist Rafael Zanchetin.

Creating tri-class cards required developing new back-end infrastructure, due to all cards prior to that being assigned to one specific class.[9] They also had to iterate heavily on the interface for the collection manager, in order to ensure the cards still felt "physical"; having a copy of Kazakus in each class tab felt wrong since it suggested multiple, separate copies of the same card.[9]

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